Artist Statement:

The Star of David symbolizes pride in my Jewish identity. The idea of celebrating my identity started with a cup that turned into a plate that turned into inspiration for more work. My Jewish identity is not only celebrated on holidays, it is a daily remembrance. 

In the Jewish tradition, the headstone for a grave is unveiled anytime between the end of Shiva and the Yahrzeit. At my mom’s unveiling, the Rabbi beautifully explained to us that while her body may be buried, her spirit will forever be alive and that she knows when we come to visit her grave and to leave a rock on top of the headstone to mark our visit.

In Judaism, we honor the anniversary of the Jewish calendar date of someone’s death by lighting a candle known as the Yahrzeit candle. The first Yahrzeit candle we lit for my mother sat next to a plant we received in honor of my mother's passing. My husband had kept the plant alive that entire year, and I realized he did so trying to keep her spirit alive. I created a planter to house the living thing given to us in honor of my mother’s passing.

Seeing that first Yahrzeit candle sitting next to the planter caused me to think I needed to make a Yahrzeit candle holder to surround her spirit. I think she would be happy to be honored this way and to have inspired this work.

Further reflection on my mom’s passing led me to contemplate my own mortality and led me to want to create an urn for my future ashes. This connected my mother’s passing with my wish to plan for my own in a way that continued to celebrate my Jewish identity.

My mother raised me as a proud American Jew. This meant knowing the history of the Jews and the meaning of our holidays, but also it meant knowing of refuseniks and raising money to house and protect them, as well as living among the survivors of the Holocaust. These survivors would remind us every year that it was not safe for Jews in many parts of the world and that the Holocaust must never be forgotten. I believe in the right of the State of Israel to exist. And I mourn the loss of life, wherever it occurs. But I am wary of the current discourse turning into a scapegoating of all Jewish people, without a more nuanced understanding of why Israel and its existence continues to be so important to us.

I don’t have the answers, but as I’ve matured, and moved around the country and traveled the world, I’ve realized how few Jews there are in this world. We are a minority and to this day still have not repopulated to account for the loss of the Holocaust.

Which is why this symbol of Jewish pride, the Star of David, still has meaning for me.

Artist Bio:

Paul Glenn was born and raised in northern New Jersey.  Throughout childhood, Judaism was an important part of his daily life.  In his early twenties, he embraced being an openly gay man, which came into direct conflict with his family, community and religion.  He had to build a new model of religion, faith and prayer that wasn’t contrary to his spiritual beliefs.

As a gay man, he accepts he is of God and does not want to be regarded by others as God’s reject. He is motivated to create work, which reminds the world that gay people enjoy and thrive as practitioners of a spiritual faith.

This motivation has led him to reflect upon many other faiths for guidance. Paul’s inspiration is drawn from images ranging from Giotto’s painted cathedrals, to Islamic mosque tiles, Buddhist sculptures, Balinese textiles, Hebrew texts, Christian mausoleums and ancient Indian textiles and ceramics.  His influences are from artists like Sol Lewitt, Agnes Martin, Josef and Anni Albers, and Ad Reinhardt.

He received his BA with honors from Brandeis University in 1989 and his MFA with honors from Rhode Island School of Design in 1994. His RISD thesis, entitled Graduate Thesis Exhibition 1994, was pivotal in his artistic journey to reconcile his own religious faith.  In this thesis, his series of scroll works explored notions of spirituality through the Jewish Torah teachings.

Paul developed a ritualistic behavior in his studio during his time at RISD that carries into his current work.  Making objects brought a destination and context to his art making that tied together his beliefs and practice. Beginning with his very first body of work inspired by Giotto, Christianity and religious rituals, Paul has uncovered a life-long process of merging ritual observation with mark making. His studio practice is executed with strategic mathematical precision that allows a truly submissive response to the moment. His process explores the concepts of structure driving accessibility to a spiritual or meditative experience.